"Aurora" - Shannon Walsh

 (Glad we got to read some of Junot Diaz's work! He is my favorite writer!)

          The narrator often uses Spanish, as well as slang words in his thoughts and in the quotations of the characters. When the narrator asks where Aurora has been, she answers, “You know me. Yo ando más que un perro” (215). He also comments on Cut’s behavior: “He’s arguing with some of the tígueres over nonsense” (220).  When referring to sex, Aurora asks, “Do you want to jig?” (215). He also uses slang to describe the success of his business in drug dealing: “We’re still making mad paper but it’s harder now (216). While under the influence, he describes his mental state as “smoothed out” (213). This mixture of English and Spanish words, and also the use of slang words works to reveal the culture of the characters and reinforce the setting in which the story takes place. Both techniques also allow the reader a deeper understanding of the narrator and character’s personalities.

          Language is straightforward and matter-of-fact, with the exception of a few figures of speech. “It’s going to rain, she says. It always looks like that. Yeah, but this time it’s going to rain for real” (214). Here, the narrator uses simple language, as if he is casually reporting a series of mundane events. This contributes to the air of boredom the narrator and characters feel throughout the story. This boredom is reinforced when he bluntly comments about his friends, using simple descriptions: “When I’m fifty this is how I’ll remember my friends: tired and yellow and drunk” (220).